2023 - 2024 LAX Connections and Transfers Thread
 

Hi folks, would appreciate your input on our scenario, thanks in advance!

We have a midnite EVA flight out of Terminal B (separate PNR). We are planning to arrive at 6:30pm at LAX T3 on a DL flight. 2 adults plus one toddler, two pieces of baggage (skypriority), everyone has Global Entry/TSA Prechk. EVA flights are J so checkin I assume should not take too long.

Whats the easiest route from T3 (after baggage claim) to TB?

When I used the interactive map and checked for directions from a T3 baggage claim (25) to EVA checkin on L3 at TB, it showed 8 minutes direct walking time (~500m). Is that correct?

Since both flights were on separate PNR's and required us to re-check bags, I was even prepared to grab an Uber from T3 to TB. Looks like it takes more time to get from T3 airside to TB since you would take the bus, so our scenario (going thru baggage claim) appears to be shorter.

It is unlikely that your walk will even be as much as eight minutes. Uber is not an option, as you have to take a bus to a dispatch point outside of the airport. Rideshare and taxis can't pick up people at terminals.

Thank you for the input, I feel less stressed out now

Had a recent flight change for a booking that has made me question our itinerary.

AA DSM>PHX>LAX, now arrives 1130am in LAX. Connecting to TN LAX>PPT with a departure at 230pm, on a separate ticket. 54 minutes in PHX to make the connection, and then 3 hrs to make the AA>TN connection in LAX. Should I be concerned with either of those timelines? Was originally trying to leave a buffer for weather/etc, but after the schedule change, that PHX connection is tight and I don't know about 3 hrs at LAX, never connected there before with separate booking. Should I be concerned?

We will be checking bags, and we'll need to get from AA domestic arrival terminal to wherever TN operates from at LAX.

you should be concerned and should arrive into LA the day prior

TN operates from TBIT. The walk from T4 to TBIT takes 3-5 minutes. Add 3-5 minutes if your flight from Phoenix arrives in T5. In my limited experience - I avoid checking luggage, however, sometimes when helping my daughter move, it was unavoidable - it takes a minimum of 30 minutes for luggage from AA flights to start arriving on the baggage carousels at LAX. Unless your flight is more than an hour late, you should be OK.

As far as the PHX is concerned, I have no idea.

A couple different opinions here. Any other thoughts? I can switch my inbound AA flights to route through ORD and arrive in LAX 1 hr earlier (10:30AM), but it would only be a 40 minute connection in ORD, and would be more of a weather concern there than in PHX. I am not sure if leaving the day before is viable, but I can look into it. Obviously that would be cheaper than missing a flight in this situation, but not sure if being that conservative is necessary.

3+ hour to make a connection at LAX is not a problem as long as you are comfortable with the risk of traveling on separate tickets. The risk is really with your PHX or ORD connection and I'm not sure LA forum is a good place to ask. Perhaps the AA forum can offer better advise.

For my risk tolerance, if my outbound long haul is to a once per day type destination, I would want my connecting flights to be on the same ticket so the airline knows where you are and can decide if they want to wait for you.

Have a connection from T7 to T1 with some significant baggage. Is the only feasible option the bus?

I’m hoping the route through the parking garages is still possible so I can push a cart the whole way, but with construction… not so sure..

ground level easy walk from the middle of T7/6 to T2/1 on sidewalk with pedestrian crossings of all rodeway. i wouldn’ worry.

BLUF: AMCITS (seniors), NZ & AUS eVisas received, Global Entry card carriers, Delta Platinum Medallion, Delta Million Miler

My wife (bad knees & back - wheel chair assist requested) & I are taking a cruise soon & flying ATL-LAX-AKL on the front end.

Once upon a time Delta & Air New Zealand had a baggage interline agreement, but no more. The tickets were booked through a travel agent, then through the cruise line & carry a ANZ ticket number so no one, ANZ included, wants to change the DAL leg to a flight 90 minutes earlier for any less than TINS $2500.

Has anyone recently had to claim bags at LAX T3, transfer (prob by bus) & re-check at TBIT, then go through TSA? If yes, about how long did it take? We've been given 2 hrs 20 min between flights at LAX, so it's a do-able deal if "Murphy" is not in play & the FAA doesn't mess things up, the flight is on time or early, etc. Have done this type of "no-fun" connection at JFK before & swore never to do it again. But that's what we get for letting Oceania Cruises do the air booking.

Coming back is all United from SYD-SFO-ATL, so it's not a problem on the back end.

Comments?

TIA.

Have you considered hiring a concierge service to help with your connection? Several such services are available. I don't know much about them other than what I read in my Google search results. I found Universal Sky VIP, Royal Airport Concierge and Airport Butler; there are probably more.

There are no buses to take from T3 to TBIT. Terminal connector buses don't stop in front of TBIT any more. There's a stop near the corner between T3 and TBIT, and the next one is the other corner between TBIT and T4.

The new DL baggage claim is closer to T3 than "T2". See https://maps.lawa.org/ for details.

I see the new map that connects the terminals and it says 15-20min for further ones. Seems like quite away. We have a good layover time so not worried but just wanting to enjoy more time at the *lounge at TBIT. J/w if people that have gone T7 -> TBIT would agree it will take that long? Thanks!
***airside connection no need to clear customs or security****

That sounds about right. It's not a short walk - the interactive map shows it as about 1400 m to go from the Amex lounge to gate 71A, so a little under a mile. I haven't done Amex lounge to T7, but I've done all of it piecewise. It's made longer than it needs to be by not being straight along the headhouses, but having to go most of the way into 4, go downstairs, walk to 6, then go upstairs and walk back to the headhouse to get the skyway to 7.

Transit times LAX these days
 

Hi, meeting a friend who is transiting LAX between an Air Canada flight and NZ6 (8.55pm). She arrives at 1pm, bags checked all the way through. Is 2 hrs prior to the NZ flight enough to get her back to LAX atm to make NZ6? We’ll not go far, probably just to Manhattan Beach. Thanks very much

If she will already be possessing her NZ boarding pass, then 2 hours is good enough, as I can't imagine TSA taking more than an hour.

Also worth noting that if you have a valid boarding pass you can clear security in any terminal. So if for some reason there are slow lines in TBIT, she can go to any terminal to clear TSA. All the south terminals (4 through 7) are connected by airside walkways to TBIT. The north complex has an airside bus from 1.5 to TBIT, but no walking connection. The TSA app gives current average wait times, but doesn't split it out by terminal. After 6 pm is off peak and looks like it's generally less than 20 minutes to clear TSA, even without precheck.

The T1.5 bus goes to TBIT West (MSC) which is a long walk back to TBIT Main. Also, bus services may be limited to scheduled LCC (Breeze, Allegiant, Sun Country) operating hours. And TBIT TSA in the evening is a zoo.

There is a shuttle between Terminal 2 and the main TBIT concourse, the bus gates are 136 -146.

Just to (long) follow-up a week after getting home.....

Evidently Delta & Air New Zealand have patched things up on their Baggage Interline Agreement & we were able to check our bags all the way from HSV thru LAX to AKL. And yes, I did go by Delta baggage claim at LAX just to make sure they weren't sitting there.... invested in Samsung SmartTags before we left & they worked fine. Free carts from the Delta T3..... pay SmartCarts available nearby.

TSA Pre-Check is a bit of a joke at TBIA..... no one manning what passed for a line & no signage...... the contractors - "it's not my job" - controlling access to the inspection area provide no instructions at all - and I got the first "intimate" patdown I've ever had to endure.

Where is the T2 bus gate located? The DL website map isn't helpful in this regard.

LAX interactive map

I haven't used the bus, but the interactive map is pretty good.

When I last visited (Dec 2022) it was at Gate 26B. The interactive map then and now says 21A which was nowhere to be found.

On March 2nd, 2023, it was still at 26A.

David

I have a PPT-LAS flight in September, connecting at LAX.

Original arrival at LAX was 10:45 with a departure for LAS at 14:15. So a 3.5hr connecting time

Just had an email to say this has now changed-The 14:15 flight is no more...

Arrival is at 10:45 with a departure to LAS at 19:30 !

I can see there are flights LAX to LAS at

13:00
18:30

Looking at the thread is it too optimistic to ask for the 13:00 departure?

PPT flight is Air Thahiti Nui which lands at TBIT
LAS flight is with Alaska so probably terminal 6.

We will have luggage but I assume these will be checked all the way through?

Thanks

Even if the luggage is checked through to LAS, you will still have to collect it at LAX and clear it through customs before rechecking it for your next flight. I'm not sure if things have changed, but it used to take as long as an hour for bags to start appearing on the luggage carousels at TBIT.

Then there is the issue of passport controls. If you have Global Entry, you can clear those in minutes. Without GE and a US passport, it could take a long time.

Common wisdom is to allow three hours for such a connection at LAX. Whether you should book an itinerary with a 2:15 connection from international to domestic at LAX depends on your comfort level.

If you have US passport, you can probably roll the dice on the 13:00 connection. Entry at TBIT is pretty fast now days with self-service kiosk. The emphasis here is connection... meaning on the same ticket with same PRN and your luggage is tagged to final destination. If you have two separate tickets, don't attempt this without 3 hour time in between.

If you have foreign passport, you have to budget in maybe 45 min to clear immigration. Plus, up to an hour to collect checked luggage and clear custom. Plus 20 to walk from TBIT to T6. You see the problem...

If you have global entry and on the same ticket, you should have plenty of time to make the 13:00.

Thanks

Crazy

Well, even if you don't clear Customs early enough, there are a plentiful of flights on AS or other airlines to LAS since you're arriving mid/late morning.

David

If I miss my 13:00 connection (likely-UK passport) the next available flight with capacity may be late in the evening? I can only see two direct flights with AA and they are 18:30 and 19:20.

The rest go via PHX and get in later than the two direct ones so it would be a huge gamble IMHO.
I'm travelling on an AA Award ticket if that makes any difference.
I may change to the 18:30 flight so I'm not on the last direct fligth that day.

Thanks for the input.

Arriving at TBIT and I am connecting to DL, while my SO is connecting to UA. I will have a longer connection, so would prefer to go with her to T7, check her in etc. What's the fastest way to get from TBIT to T7? Walk? If so, how long?
Then what's the easiest way to get from T7 to DL Terminal?

TBIT to T7 is about a 15 min walk, straight shot down the sidewalk landside. Your choice of upper (departure) level or lower (arrival) level. The recommendation is usually take the elevator or stairs up to the upper level for fresh air and lower noise level. You can also take the Terminal Connector bus from the lower level at pink sign but the closest pick up point from TBIT is at T4 (basically, you have to walk either way so I recommend just walking to T7).

Google Map walking direction TBIT to T7

From T7 to T2, you can walk via East Way (the road next to the Theme Building). Walk from T7 towards T6 and then use the lower level crosswalk at East Way and take East Way to T2. It will be about 7 or 8 min walk. But there are lots of construction at LAX near the Theme Building at the moment so taking the Terminal Connector bus is probably not a terrible idea.

Google Map walking direction T7 to T2

Link to the PDF map for buses
https://www.flylax.com/lax-traffic-a...sportation#ten

I just did the walk from T1 to T7 last week. It's fine if you take the sidewalks along East Way, but construction barricades will be in the way if you try to cut through the garages. The sidewalk along the Center Way side of the garages is blocked, so if you walk out the driveways you end up on the roadway on Center Way.

Int.-to-Domestic - 2h20m AA connection at T4 Eagle's Nest vs. 2h AS connection at T6
 

I am looking at two possible international-domestic connecting flights through LAX with a similar price, and was wondering which is the better and safer option when connecting from an international flight arriving at TBIT in the evening around 7/8pm. The whole ticket (the ticket, sold through BA, will include both international and domestic legs on one ticket, connecting at LAX) will be in J, so I should have access to priority security lanes (where available), but I do not have PreCheck or Clear.

Option 1:
2h 20m of connecting time
Transfer from a BA flight arriving at TBIT around 6pm to an AA (Eagle) flight departing from T4 Eagle's Nest for SJC.
This is the last AA flight of the day from LAX-SJC, though there are still one or two AS LAX-SJC and AA LAX-SFO flights remaining scheduled for later in the evening should a rebooking be necessary due to delays and immigration/customs queues.

Option 2:
2h of connecting time
Transfer from a BA flight arriving at TBIT around 6pm to an AS flight departing from T6 for SFO.
There are still several more LAX-SFO and LAX-SJC AS and AA flights remaining scheduled for later in the evening should a rebooking be necessary due to delays and immigration/customs queues.

Taking into account walking distance between TBIT and T4 vs. TBIT and T6, T4 vs. T6 security wait times around 7/8pm, the availability of Priority Security lanes (on a J ticket but no PreCheck or Clear) in T4 vs. T6, and extra time required for the Eagle's Nest bus, which is the better option given both options are of a similar price?

LAX is my home airport, so I have never connected there. I have Global Entry, which includes PreCheck, so my personal experience of going through passport controls and immigration, and TSA security are likely to be different than what you will experience.

With that in mind, let me point out the following:

It can easily take 20 minutes or longer to get from T4 or T5 to the remote Eagle terminal - I have done that more than once - so that evens out the two options.

Walking between adjacent LAX terminals takes between three and five minutes, so figure on 6-10 minutes longer to walk from TBIT to T6 than to T4.

Will you have checked bags? Those can take a long time to start showing up on the baggage carousels at TBIT. I rarely, if ever, travel with checked bags, however, from what I have heard, it can take as long as 40 minutes or even longer. Yes, the carousels are located after passport controls, so some of the wait will be spent while in the immigration line; however, after collecting your luggage, you will still have to pass by and possibly chat with the CBP officers who staff the exit from the Federal Inspection Service facility.

If I were in your situation, I'd opt for the AS flight with a two-hour connection; I think that you'll get to the T6 gate sooner than to the remote terminal gate and you'll have a backup flight leaving from the same terminal.

I second this, though I'm a bit biased as primarily an AS flyer. If there are more AS flights later they'll be easy to switch to as long as there are seats. I think the same day change fee for intra CA flights without AS status is still only $25. You might lose the J seat if you have to switch, but it's such a short flight it doesn't matter much. The last flight of the day tends to be least full and sometimes seems like it's just a shuttle full of airline crews (multiple airlines). I've only made connections at LAX a few times, and it's been when I was on multiple itineraries where it wasn't worth the trouble of trying to go home between the end of one and start of the next.

Eagles nest kinda sucks, and has the added time of getting shuttled there. If you look at the AA/AS strategies, AA is reducing intra-CA and regional flights in favor of steering people to AS, while AS is very competitive in the west and uses AA and international parters as feeders. The nest is scheduled to shut down next year to make space for T9, so is probably getting slowly worse.

If you don't have Precheck or Clear, T6 security will probably be faster than T4 or T5 (you can go through any). T6 load drops so much in the early evening that CLEAR closes by 8, and around that time Pre is sometimes mixed into the regular line and run as pre-light. The longest it's taken after 8 pm is about 10 minutes (before 8 I can get from the curb to airside in 5). I'd also check the line at TBIT though -it may be even faster, though I've only gone through the CLEAR/Pre line there and it's always been zero wait. The interactive map (here) is actually pretty reasonable at time estimates, and if you're a fast walker you can treat it as an upper limit. The airside hike from B to T6 is a little convoluted (changing levels multiple times) and can be longer than the landside hike, depending on what gate you're going to, but is very doable.

Thanks both for the detailed advice, it is really helpful and much appreciated. Given all this information, connecting to AS in T6 definitely seems like the better option over connecting to the AA Eagle's Nest via T4/T5 - I'll opt for the AS flight.

I will have checked bags and hopefully they will not take too long to show up, but if not I am hoping that with several remaining AS flights to SFO/SJC scheduled for later in the day, rebooking shouldn't be an issue if I miss my original connection due to Immigration/Customs/Baggage wait times.

I'll just add one more detail.

As you will be connecting from one oneworld carrier to another, you will probably be flagged as a passenger with a tight connection. Look for an agent in the jet bridge or just outside it who will be handling out orange "Express Connection" boarding pass sleeves. The agent should have one with your name and flight information. That should speed up your process through immigration, customs and security.

Getting around Los Angeles LAX airport- could someone help?
 

Hello and best wishes! My wife and I will be arriving from Honolulu on Hawaian Airlines at 4:55PM on August 7. Then we will need to find the terminal/gate for Aviana for a flight to Bogota, Colombia at 8:45pm same day. Will it take long to get from our arrival to our departure? Any advice? My wife and I are elderly.